Xjyuk

I'm going to visit my girlfriend in the US (I am from the UK, 31 years old) for 10 days soon, for the first time. We've known each other 8 years online and have been together long distance for nearly a year.

I've read a few horror stories about people being denied entry when it's mentioned they're visiting a significant other in the US.

My plan is to just be honest and if asked say my reason for travel is to visit my girlfriend for 10 days. I have a good job in the UK and our current plan is that she will move over here to the UK in around a year.

What are the chances of me being denied entry if I am taking my honest approach? I plan to tell them I am visiting my girlfriend. I have accommodation booked for 10 days, plenty of funds to cover the visit and have a hire car booked for 10 days, as well as a return ticket to the UK.

One of my worries it that if they want to read messages they will see the word 'marriage' and think I'm going to overstay, but we do also have messages stating that we wouldn't be looking to get married until the end of 2020 or early 21 and that we'd do this all through the correct visa routes.

Suddenly got into a bit of a panic over it, even though I know my motives are honest and there is no way that I would overstay my visa or get married at this point.

The visa waiver program allows you to do the things you could do on a visitor visa, which includes "Visit with friends or relatives". What you are actually doing is completely proper and permitted.

You will probably not have any problems. Immigration officials must be quite bored with people from the UK visiting the US for a week or two. There will be dozens just on your flight.

There are two issues that can cause immigration officials to be concerned about visitors: becoming destitute in the country, and overstaying. You seem to have already covered the first issue, with good provision for your planned travel.

If you want to do anything more, collect up some evidence of an established life in the UK. For example:

• Document your job - a few payslips, anything confirming you are on vacation from a steady job.


• If you own or rent your home, document that.

Do not carry anything that looks like job hunting. No copies of your resume. No tools of your trade - a hairdresser was suspected of planning to work because she had her professional scissors and combs.

Put that material in your carry-on bag, but do not produce it unless asked. During your arrival interview, do not volunteer anything. Listen carefully to questions. Answer clearly and truthfully exactly what was asked. Stick firmly to your plan of being honest.

One of the suggestions from this Feb 2017 article (which is excellent BTW) - is use a burner phone.
can US border agents search your phone

One way of doing this - would be to back up your messages (easy enough to do on a smartphone using an app to some cloud service provider OR to your SD Card) and then delete all messages on the phone.

For space saving reasons I keep all my photos on an SD card anyway - So to turn your personal device into a "Burner" phone - pop out the micro SD card - put it in a bag or some other container and keep it in your pocket. THEN delete ALL accounts to social media & most especially to your email on the phone. Delete ALL contacts - EXCEPT for the one contact who will be picking you up/ you are going to meet 1st.

You will still have the same number - BUT your phone is largely at this point a "burner"

Once you have passed through customs/ border control - you can connect back to your social and email accounts - put your Micro SD back in and voila - like Austin Powers - your back baby...

While inside the USA - the police & ALL federal agencies are required to get a warrant before looking inside your phone.

Good Luck!